Brussels, 3 August 2023
The EU Council today imposed sanctions on an additional 38 individuals and 3 entities. It also extended export bans to firearms, aviation and space industry.
We have adopted new sanctions in reaction to the Lukashenko’s illegitimate regime continued systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations and brutal repression against all segments of the Belarusian society. Today we are also taking further measures against the Belarusian regime as an accomplice in Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. We stand by the Belarusian people in their quest for peace and democracy.
Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
In light of the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus, the EU adopted new restrictive measures against 38 individuals and 3 entities from Belarus who are responsible for serious human rights violations, contribute to the repression of civil society and democratic forces, as well as those who benefit from and support the Lukashenko regime.
The new listings include penitentiary officials responsible for the torture and ill-treatment of detainees, including political prisoners, prominent propagandists, as well as members of the judicial branch involved in prosecuting and sentencing democratic opponents, members of civil society and journalists.
Sanctions also target state-owned enterprises which have taken measures against employees or dismissed them for participating in peaceful protests and strikes. Belneftekhim, a state-controlled oil and chemical conglomerate, is also listed as one of the strategic companies, which is supporting the Lukashenko regime.
Altogether, EU restrictive measures on Belarus now apply to a total of 233 individuals and 37 entities. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which impedes them from entering or transiting through EU territories.
The relevant legal acts, including the names of the persons concerned, have been published in the Official Journal.
Moreover, in response to Belarus’s continuous involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU imposed targeted restrictive measures, namely the following:
- export ban on goods and technology suited for use in aviation and the space industry, including aircraft engines and drones
- prohibition of sale, supply, transfer or export of firearms, their parts and essential components and ammunition
- further export restrictions on goods used by Russia for its war of aggression against Ukraine, including semiconductor devices, electronic integrated circuits, manufacturing and testing equipment, photographic cameras and optical components
- extended export ban on dual-use goods and technology
Belarus also remains subject to restrictions in the financial sector, trade, energy, transport and others.
Background
EU autonomous sanctions vis-à-vis Belarus have been in place since 2004. Since August 2020, in response to the fraudulent presidential elections and the brutal crackdown on civil society and democratic opposition, the EU has imposed successive rounds of sanctions against those responsible for internal repression and human rights violations in Belarus, those undermining democracy and the rule of law, as well as against other persons associated with the Lukashenko regime. The forced landing of a civilian airplane in May 2021 and the arrest of a Belarusian journalist triggered a first round of sectoral measures. Since March 2022, the EU has broadened the scope of sectoral measures on Belarus, in response to Belarus’s involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. These measures signal to the responsible political and economic actors that their actions and support for the Lukashenko regime and involvement in the Russian war effort come at a cost.
The EU condemns in the strongest possible terms Belarus’s involvement in Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine and continues to urge Belarus to stop its collaboration in Russia’s war. Moreover, the EU is determined to address the human rights situation in the country and will continue to support the Belarusian people in their legitimate quest for democracy, including through support to civil society and independent media.
The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals and entities, have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.